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Class
Mammals
Order
Rodentia
Family
Castoridae
Zoo section
Mixed forest
Diet
Herbivorous
IUCN Status
Least concern
Diet
Herbivorous, feeding principally on leaves, bark and hardwood twigs, including aspen.
Lifespan
Up to 12 years in the wild and about 20 years in captivity.
Reproduction
Sexually mature at 2 years. Mating occurs between January and February. The 3-4 young are born between May and June after a gestation period of 14-15 weeks, and are weaned after 10 weeks.
Predators
Gray wolf, Canadian lynx, bobcat, bear, coyote, fisher, wolverine, and river otter.
FAQ : How does a beaver cut down trees? How does it know where the trees will fall ?
The beaver cuts down trees with its teeth, while supporting itself on its tail. Incisor teeth never stop growing and chewing on trees wears them down. Beaver teeth marks can be seen on logs and stumps it has chewed on. Contrary to popular belief, the beaver doesn’t know where the tree will fall. As the tree is falling, the beaver dives into the water for protection. Still, beavers are sometimes injured or killed by falling trees.
About the beaver lodge…
At the Zoo sauvage of St-Félicien, beavers live in a lodge built by humans, but based on the beavers’ own specifications, consistent with lodges found in nature. A glass pane provides visitors with a view of the inside. A corridor inside the Ghislain Gagnon Pavilion leads to the lodge and visitors can get up close to the beaver family. The light that shines inside the lodge doesn’t bother the lodgers that carry on with their business under our very eyes. The glass gives off heat to avoid condensation. Beavers are free to come an go from the lodge to their outside habitat.
Is it normal to find muskrats in beaver lodges ?
Yes, it’s normal. In nature, beavers tolerate the presence of muskrats. Although muskrats build their own burrows or lodges, they also often cohabit with beavers.